Erasure of Truth
Iris Y.
Digital Illustration (Procreate)
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I created this piece to participate in the discussion on the whitewashing of Greek statues and their history. For centuries, archeologists have concluded that the white and marbled remains of ancient Greece symbolized sophistication and elegance. Essentially, it paints a false narrative about how ivory sculptures and architecture are the pinnacle of high class. However, this idea is being contested, as recently, preserved remains of ancient Greece were found with bright colored paint. The Greek statues were actually colorful, as were the ancient Greek monuments. I wanted to draw a comparison between the real ancient Greece and how it is currently being portrayed in museums. On one side, the piece depicts ancient Greece with vibrant buildings and a painted statue. I tried to depict a lively society with busy streets full of people enjoying their lives. On the other side, I wanted to portray what the statue has become after centuries of erosion. The statue is perched on a stand like other damaged statues, showing the state of the remains of a once-great empire. The museum's color scheme is much colder and desaturated to create a contrast against the other side. My goal is to showcase my view on this issue but also open a discussion with other artists to understand their opinions on this subject as well.
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Creativity means a freedom to imagine, create, and explore. To me, creativity brings unique solutions as well as an open mindset to life.
